The
origins
Asian Cinema: Japan and China
The key difference between the fighting
styles featured in films from these two countries
is that the Japanese tend to focus on weapon
fighting, while the Chinese are partial to
more physical ways of solving things.
Kendo, a derivative of the traditional
Japanese Bujutsu, is the type of sword fighting
most often featured in Japanese films. The
technique is stylized mainly for one-on-one
altercations, which often seem unsophisticated
when compared to the significantly more
complex styling of the Chinese tradition.
China's cinema has always exhibited a strong
influence of its stunt-heavy opera; even
the earliest of films used editing to create
an effect of people jumping ridiculously
high and long. Another early and enduring
technique to come out of China is framing
a portion (if not all) of the fight in the
air, with characters levitating for unnaturally
extended periods of time.
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If you thought the flying sequences
of “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon”
(2000) were new, think again. In fact,
this is classic Chinese cinema with
all the trimmings: Lengthy, elaborate,
epic-like fights featuring people flying
across the screen while using varied
traditional weaponry. Part II of this
study takes a closer look at the cinematic
techniques that make such stunts so
incredibly believable. Photo ©
Sony Pictures |
The Stars: Bruce
Lee & Jackie Chan
Arguably, Bruce Lee's work can be credited
with changing just about everything related
to the way in which filmmakers treat fight
scenes. A large part of Lee's cult icon
status is, of course, due to the actor's
talent and globally recognized mastery of
his craft. However, the way in which his
fighting skills have been captured on film
is just as important, as there is a world
of difference between the reality of martial
arts and making a fight exciting on-screen.
For example, while watching “Enter
The Dragon” (1973), you'll notice
that Lee always appears in the center of
the frame, in total control, thus becoming
the focal point of each scene. This technique
is used consistently to this day, most notably
by another contemporary Chinese action hero,
Jackie Chan.
Chan has also achieved global recognition,
yet it is not based solely on fighting skills.
As Lee, Chan does his own stunts, yet these
have become much more elaborate with time
— not only when it comes to style
of fighting and weaponry used, but also
in terms of the overall scene complexity.
Chan's trademark has become obvious; his
scenes are edited so that fighting sequences
are spliced with recurring cuts to the actor's
memorable facial expressions. Unlike the
less charismatic Lee, Chan has managed to
cross both linguistic and cultural borders
with his unique blend of technical mastery
and comedy.
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zoom image
Bruce Lee takes his stance
for another rumble of kung-fu
action. |
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Jackie Chan is today known
for his rapid-acrobatic-object-fighting
, i.e. using anything in
scene from a chair to a
broomstick. |
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